- Manchester United are preparing a second offer for Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite
- The Toffees previously rejected a £45m bid from United for the England star
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Everton are braced for another offer from Manchester United for star defender Jarrad Branthwaite after previously rejecting a cut-price deal.
Branthwaite’s failure to make Gareth Southgate‘s final 26-man England squad for Euro 2024 has meant he is able to negotiate his future without fear of European competition getting in the way.
United are looking to rebuild this summer after it was confirmed that Erik ten Hag would be staying on as manager under the leadership of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS.
They are in the market for a central defender, and have earmarked Branthwaite as an option, with the highly-rated defender able to earn struggling Everton a hefty sum to help them off-the-pitch if he does leave.
The Toffees have already rejected a £43m offer from United for Branthwaite, believing that they can secure an even higher fee for the talent whether from United or another club.
However, Everton are continuing to insist they want to keep hold of the defender who won the club’s young player of the season award following a breakthrough campaign at Goodison Park.
The Toffees have put a £70million price tag on the 21-year-old, believing that a fee similar to the £80m United previously forked out for Harry Maguire is closer to their valuation.
United boss Erik ten Hag views bringing in defensive reinforcements as a top priority especially after rejecting the chance to extend Raphael Varane’s deal.
United’s new recruitment approach led by Ratcliffe and his INEOS team is focused on a new approach, and the club are also monitoring a potential move for Lille centre back Leny Yoro.
The 18-year-old prospect is a target for both Man United and Liverpool, but appears to prefer a transfer to Spain instead.
As Mail Sport reported last month, Liverpool admire the centre-back and Real Madrid do not wish to pay Lille’s £42m asking price but the Champions League winners believe Yoro favours them.
That remains the case with the defender open to leaving French football in favour of the Premier League and LaLiga.